West Nile Virus Contributed To Death Of Lombard Village President

Lombard Village President William Mueller has died from complications of West Nile Virus, the village has announced. (Village of Lombard)

LOMBARD, Ill. (STMW) — The long-time village president of west suburban Lombard died on Saturday from complications caused by West Niles Virus, according to a statement posted on the village’s website.

William J. “Bill” Mueller, 76, had served as village president since 1993. He was hospitalized on Aug. 5. In 2008, he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a bone-marrow cancer.

Mueller leaves behind his wife, Eileen, and two daughters and four grandchildern.

“Our father was truly a servant leader and everything he did was for others,” Mueller’s daughters–Donna Fruehe and Debbe Rapata–said in a statement. “We feel sincerely blessed. He was an amazing dad, husband and grandpa.

The family issued a statement saying they wanted to “thank everyone for the outpouring of thoughts and prayers. It has been amazing and has strengthened us to get through this difficult time.”

Funeral arrangements were being made Saturday and would be announced as soon as possible.

Illinois State Health Department Director LaMar Hasbrouck tells CBS 2 his agency has not confirmed yet whether West Nile Virus caused Mueller’s death. A determination could be made as early as Monday, he said. If so, it would be the first West Nile-related fatality in the state this year.

There have been 12 documented human cases in Illinois — two in DuPage County and 10 in Cook County.